Most College degree and certificate programs are approved for training-eligible service persons, veterans, and dependents. Veterans and veteran’s dependents may be eligible for educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Students who wish to determine eligibility for veterans benefits should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once eligibility is determined, such individuals should contact their campus veterans advisor each semester to complete the necessary forms to establish and maintain their eligibility for benefits. Full-time educational benefits are available to those registering for and maintaining 12 or more credits in degree program courses. Three quarter-time benefits are paid for 9 to 11 credits and half-time benefits are paid for 6 to 8 credits per semester. Active duty service persons and those registered for less than 6 credits are entitled to tuition reimbursement only. Certificate programs are measured differently for payment. Courses taken through the Extended Learning Institute and accelerated courses are also measured differently. See a campus veterans advisor for details. Students who receive educational benefits must report their enrollment each semester to their veterans advisor. The information will then be certified and reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office. Any changes to a student’s enrollment must also be reported to the campus veterans advisor. Changes include canceled classes, dropped classes, withdrawing from classes, adding classes, or any other type of change that may affect one’s eligibility to receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Excessive absences may result in the student’s dismissal from the course and adjustment of benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Any change in status must be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as soon as possible, but no more than 30 days after the change has been officially completed at the College.
Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill)
This program provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. To apply for benefits, veterans must complete an online application (www.gibill.va.gov) for educational benefits with the Veterans Administration (VA 22 -1990), provide a copy of their discharge papers - DD214, provide a copy of a paid tuition receipt, and provide a schedule of enrolled classes.
Chapter 33 (Post 911 GI Bill)
This program is for veterans who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Post 911 GI Bill benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. Veterans must apply online (www.gibill.va.gov) for this benefit, and a letter will be sent from the V.A. explaining benefit eligibility. This letter must be brought to PVCC along with a copy of the DD214 (to receive PE credit) and a schedule of enrolled classes. The decision to enroll in the Post 911 GI Bill is irrevocable, so care must be used when choosing this plan.
Chapter 35 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program)
This program provides educational benefits to the spouses and children of military service members who were killed, reported missing in action, prisoners of war, or rated permanently disabled during active duty. To apply for this program, a 22-5490 form must be submitted to
PVCC (www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-225490-ARE.pdf).
Virginia War Orphans Educational Benefits
The Code of Virginia provides for free tuition and fees to attend state-supported institutions of higher education for children of persons deceased, disabled, made a prisoner of war, or declared missing in action as a result of any armed conflict after December 6, 1941, involving the Armed Forces of the U.S. The children of veterans who qualify for this benefit will be directly contacted by the appropriate government agency.
Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation)
The primary purpose of this program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service-connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible and entitled. The program also provides educational and vocational counseling for eligible service members, veterans and veterans’ dependents. Veterans who qualify for this benefit will be directly contacted by the appropriate government agency.
Chapter 32 (Veterans Educational Assistance Program - VEAP)
Under this plan, opened to those who saw active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, veterans make contributions from their military pay that are matched on a $2.00 to $1.00 basis by the Government. These funds can then be used for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs
Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve)
Members of the Selected Reserve may be eligible for this program which can be used for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on the job training, and vocational flight training programs. To apply for benefits under this plan, veterans must complete an online application for educational benefits with the Veterans Administration (VA 22 -1990) www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-5490ARE.pdf, provide a copy of their discharge papers - DD214 (to receive PE credit), provide a copy of a paid tuition receipt, and provide a schedule of enrolled classes.
Chapter 1607 (Montgomery GI Bill - Reserve Educational Assistance Program - REAP)
Members of Reserve components who were called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress are eligible for this program. The benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. To apply for benefits under this plan, veterans must complete an online application for educational benefits with the Veterans Administration (VA 22 -1990) www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-5490ARE.pdf, provide a copy of their discharge papers - DD214 (to receive PE credit), provide a copy of a paid tuition receipt, and provide a schedule of enrolled classes.
Active Duty Tuition Assistance
The College participates in the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) program. Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to eligible members
of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Congress has given each service the ability to pay up to 100 percent for the tuition expenses of its members. In the event that TA does not cover fees required by the College, the service member is responsible for paying the out-of-pocket fees. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application processes, and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services. For more information on using Tuition Assistance, students should contact their branch of service education office or PVCC’s Veterans Services Office at vetsconnect@pvcc.edu.
Reserves and National Guard Tuition Assistance
Members of the Selective Reserves are eligible for Tuition Assistance (TA). However, each of the Armed Forces determines how to administer their own Tuition Assistance. For more information on using Tuition Assistance, students should contact their branch of service education office or PVCC’s Veterans Services Office at vetsconnect@pvcc.edu
Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)
PVCC remains committed to the education of military members and their spouses. PVCC is an approved school for the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program. MyCAA allows select military spouses to receive financial assistance for licenses, certificates, certifications, or associate degrees (excluding General Studies and Liberal Arts) necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth portable career fields. For more information, contact MyCAA at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/Default.aspx/ or PVCC’s Veterans Services Office at vetsconnect@pvcc.edu.
Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
Under the Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, a child between the ages of 16 and 29, or spouse of a military service member killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or at least 90 percent disabled may be eligible for education benefits. These benefits may include full payment of tuition, fees, room and board, and books at any state supported college or university in Virginia. The veteran must have been a Virginia citizen at the time he or she entered the military or must have been a Virginia citizen for at least five years prior to the surviving dependent’s Application for Admission. The program application may be downloaded at www.dvs.virginia.gov/education-employment/virginia-militarysurvivorsand-dependents-education-program, or obtained by contacting the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, attn: VMSDEP, 101 N. 14th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.
Satisfactory Progress Policy for Recipients of Veterans Benefits
To be eligible for veterans educational benefits, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with PVCC standards. The following standards must be met: Students will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as making unsatisfactory progress if their cumulative GPA falls below the required level based on the following:
Regular Credits Attempted
(A, B, C, D, F)
Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirement
13-23 credits 1.50
24-47 credits 1.75
48 or more credits 2.00
This standard will be applied each term. However, students who do not achieve the above minimum cumulative GPA requirement, but do achieve a GPA of at least a 2.00 for the term being evaluated, may be certified for that term as making satisfactory progress. When a student’s academic record does not meet the above standards, the student will be notified in writing by the veterans advisor that his/her next term will be “probationary.” The student will be required to meet with a counselor or academic advisor to develop a written plan to indicate how he/she will successfully complete his or her educational objective and how he or she will satisfy the GPA requirement for satisfactory progress toward graduation. This plan will be kept on file in the Veterans Services Office. Those who do not meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement or do not earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 for the probationary term will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as making unsatisfactory progress. The student may be certified on a retroactive basis for the following term if he/she receives a minimum GPA of 2.00 for that semester. When the student’s cumulative GPA meets or exceeds the minimum requirement, educational benefits will be restored on a regular basis. If a student is subject to academic suspension, he/she must be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as making unsatisfactory progress. Benefits will not be resumed until the student is making satisfactory progress.
Refunds, Credits, Grades and Reinstatement for Active Military Service
Should a student be ordered to active duty or be mobilized and request to be withdrawn from the college after the census date, the student may elect either to be deleted from the registration file and be awarded a refund, or to be administratively withdrawn with no refund and assigned a grade of ‘W.” Students requesting refunds will be refunded for all tuition and required fees. Students requesting refunds shall also be refunded for textbook costs according to the contractual arrangement with the local textbook vendor.
Students ordered to active duty or who are mobilized may receive an incomplete grade (“I”) until released from active duty or mobilization. All course requirements shall be completed within one year from the date of release from active duty or mobilization. Students ordered to active due or who are mobilized may complete examinations prior to the regularly scheduled times in order to complete degree requirements. Approval must be granted by the student’s faculty instructor(s) and dean for examinations to be completed prior to regularly scheduled times.
Students who are called to active due or who are mobilized will be reinstated in the same program(s) of study without having to re-apply for admission to the College after a cumulative absence of not more than five years, so long as the student provides notice of intent to return to the College to the Veteran’s Affairs specialist not later than three years after the completion of service.
PLEASE NOTE: Veterans who are new to PVCC but have used their educational benefits at a previous school must complete a request for a change of program or place of training form (VA 22-1995)
www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-1995ARE.pdf.
For additional information on these and other benefit programs, students are encouraged to visit the Veterans Administration Web site www.gibill.va.gov. Detailed steps to enrollment for veterans are available on the PVCC Web site www.pvcc.edu/veterans.
Military Exceptions to Domicile
The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition purposes:
- A Veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence).
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.
- A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence).
- An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019.
- Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person so described must have enrolled in the institution prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 33, or chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.
- Active duty service members stationed outside of Virginia are charged the military contract rate which includes a capital fee.
- Active duty service members who are stationed in Virginia or a contiguous state may apply for a domicile exception to receive instate tuition rates.
Each student must submit a Domicile Exception Application to qualify.
The Domicile Exception Application may be accessed on the PVCC website: Military Domicile Exception Form.
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